Mama, Do You Love Me? is the title of a children’s book by Barbara Joosse (Joe-see). This delightful story is made even more enjoyable with the illustrations of talented Alaskan artist Barbara Lavallee. The setting is the interaction between an Inuit woman and her young daughter, following the mother’s profession of undying love for her child. The girl probes the strength of her mother’s promise with various imagined scenarios, from mis-step to misbehavior, and from defiance to danger. She wants to know if there’s anything she might do that could turn her mother’s heart to stone.

[Carolyn reads] Would you love me, she asks her mom, if I carried our eggs – our ptarmigan eggs! – and I tried to be careful, and I tried to walk slowly, but I fell and the eggs broke? Says the mother in reply, Then I would be sorry. But still, I would love you.

One evening while the disciples were sailing on a stormy sea, the men were frightened to see someone walking toward them on the water. Does anyone know who that was? Jesus. When he got close enough for the disciples to see him, Peter thought he’d like to try walking on the waves. He was fine while he kept his eyes on Jesus, but when he looked at the wind and waves, he became frightened and started to sink… Jesus was sorry that his friend was scared, but he reached out his hand and pulled Peter into the boat (Matt. 14:22ff). Does anyone know why he saved Peter? Jesus loved him.

[Carolyn reads] Says the little girl to her mother, Mama, would you love me…if I threw water at our lamp? Her mother replies, then, Dear One, I would be very angry. But still, I would love you.

Zacchaeus was a greedy man – when he collected taxes, he took more money than he should. Everyone was angry at him. When people started lining the streets to see Jesus, no one would let him push to the front of the crowd. So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a tree. When the Lord walked by, he stopped and said, Zacchaeus, come done so we can have a party at your house! Zacchaeus was so happy he said, I’ll give half of my money to poor people, and if I’ve cheated anyone, I’ll pay them back four times as much. Jesus said, Today salvation has come to this house! (Luke 19:1ff).

[Carolyn reads] Says the little girl to her mother, Mama, would you love me…if I ran away…and sang with the wolves and slept in a cave? Says her mother, then, Dear One, I would be very sad. But still, I would love you.

Jesus tells the story of a man who has two sons. One day the younger son says to his father, I’m tired of living here – give me my half of your money – I want to see the world. So he gets his money and leaves the country. Every day the father is sad as he watches the road to see if his son will come home. But the young man travels around having fun, going to parties, not caring about anything or anyone in life…

…until the day he discovers that all his money is gone. The best job he can find is…feeding pigs. In fact, he’s so hungry that the slop they eat starts to look good. The younger brother decides to return home and apologize for his selfish behavior. But as he starts walking up the driveway, his father sees him coming and runs to him with great joy. The young man can’t even apologize before his father forgives him and welcomes him home in love. Says the happy father: We have to be glad and celebrate…this one who was dead is alive; this one who was lost has been found! (Luke 15:11ff).

[Carolyn reads] Says the little girl to her mother, Mama, would you love me…if I turned into a polar bear, and I was the meanest bear you ever saw and I had sharp, shiny teeth, and I chased you into your tent and you cried?

Says her mother, Then I would be very surprised and very scared. But still, inside the bear, you would be you, and I would love you.

The soldiers led Jesus up the hill to be crucified. When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed Jesus to the cross. As they lifted him up, Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing. (Luke 23:34).

[Carolyn reads] Says the mother to her little girl, I will love you, forever and for always, because you are my Dear One.

Says the Lord to each of us, For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life (John 3:16). Amen.